Owaisis’ MIM aims to open account in Jharkhand

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen, popularly known as MIM, is looking to field candidates in 10 to 12 assembly seats in Jharkhand, a party leader said on Thursday, as the Hyderabad-based group seeks to expand its national footprint.

The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul-Muslimeen, popularly known as MIM, is looking to field candidates in 10 to 12 assembly seats in Jharkhand, a party leader said on Thursday, as the Hyderabad-based group seeks to expand its national footprint.

The decision comes after the party, led by Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, unexpectedly won two assembly seats in Maharashtra last month.Success in Jharkhand could embolden the party to try its political fortunes in more crucial states with significant Muslim voters such as West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh where elections will take place over the next three years. It could also set the party up for forays into Kerala, Assam, Karnataka and Jammu and Kashmir.

MIM in-charge for Jharkhand and Bihar, Maulana Munawwar, told Hindustan Times from Hyderabad over telephone that several aspiring candidates from Jharkhand, particularly Ranchi and Jamshedpur, had been meeting party leaders over the past few days.